The Fray • Rett Madison • October 14, 2024 • The Complex
Reviewed and Photographed by Austin Dayton
To the excitement of many, the Legendary alt-rock band The Fray brought their “The Fray is Back” tour to Salt Lake City, Utah this last week as they played a sold-out show at The Complex. With them, they brought the ever-so-talented Rett Madison. Returning from a recent five-year hiatus and with fans of all ages anxiously packed into the Grand Room at the Complex, The Fray delivered a perfect emotional alt-rock set that was just what everyone had come for.
Rett Madison
Starting the night off, Rett Madison and her band took the stage. Though relatively unknown compared to The Fray, Rett almost immediately proved she deserved to be on that stage as she delivered an emotionally raw yet refined set. Diving into themes of pain, suffering, self-acceptance, and healing, Rett took the audience deep into those emotions with her perfect tone and impressive range, priming the audience for the same from the Fray. Partway through her set, the heat of the packed crowd got the best of a fan, causing Madison to pause and get medical help for a fan who passed out. Fan taken care of, Madison Rett went on to finish strong, having won over the crowd with her voice, lyrics, and compassion.
The Fray
As the audience waited in anticipation for The Fray to take the stage, each guitar check and mic adjustment seemed to trigger a chain reaction of cheer and screams, only to quickly die out. Just as it seemed like the crowd could not wait one more minute, the lights faded, and a projector dimly lit up the stage. Across the back wall streaks of light flew from left to right, and with those shooting stars the band ran onto the stage. Cheers and shouts roared through the packed venue.
Leading the show with “Angeleno Moon,” a song from their new album, a surprising number of fans were already singing along. Though it’s easy to remember The Fray for their amazing hits, the quality found throughout their more popular songs can be seen and heard across so many of their songs, their new album proving no different. Those who had come only knowing more of their popular hits did not have to wait long as the second song in the cue was “Over My Head (Cable Car).” This song brought the already excited crowd to a new level of energy as nearly everyone in the venue began to sing with the band, word for word. From that point on the concert was alive.
As The Fray began to weave through their discography, it was clear that the one thing that had not changed over the years was the chemistry the band had on stage. Forming over 20 years ago in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, The Fray has long been a staple in the alt-rock scene. Though Issac has stepped away from the Band the soul of the Fray is still very much intact.
Today that soul is tended to by Joe King on vocals and guitar, Dave Welsh on guitar, Ben Wysocki on drums, Dane Poppin on base, and Dan B on Keys. That soul was built on the foundation of both their debut album “How to Save a Life” and the self-titled follow-up “The Fray.” Both of these were overwhelmingly well received as the band skyrocketed into the limelight, even earning them a spot on Billboard’s Top 100 Artists of the Decade list.
As the band settled into the stage, the crowd also began to settle into their role, which may have been self-assigned but was to sing each and every word of each song. Songs such as “Heartbeat,” “Hurricane,” and “Love Don’t Die” elicited just as much a reaction as one would think their greatest hits would. At one point Joe hopped off the stage, over the rail, and into the crowd. Fans crowded around as he proceeded to keep singing, those around him joining in as he waded his way across the venue.
Later on in the set the band strayed from their discography as they began to play something that sounded familiar but initially out of place. With a few more notes the crowd realized they were hearing “Lose You To Love Me” written by Selena Gomez. In typical Fray fashion the band put their own flair to the song as they slowed it down and injected their raw passion into the music, the audience loved this as they once again took on a self-assigned role, this time being the backup choir.
As the night came to an end, the band finished the set with the ever-so-popular 2007 single “You Found Me.” Both band and audience sang every word, taking the venue back into the deep intimacy that started the night. Thanking the Salt Lake City crowd, The Fray left the stage, leaving the audience with mixed emotions of the joy of the concert yet the yearning for more. Within a minute, chants of “one more song” echoed across the venue on repeat. Playing a bit hard to get, the band did not immediately cave, but eventually caved as they ran back onto the stage. Gathering close together, instruments in hand, they finished the night with first a cover of “Goodnight Irene” and then put the cherry on top with an astounding acoustic version of “How to Save a Life.” Truly a gift to all those in attendance.
For many in the audience, the chance to see The Fray was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Looking across the crowd into the eyes of those in attendance, it could almost be interpreted as a sacred experience for many in the crowd. That should come as no surprise to those familiar with The Fray’s music. The real, raw, and emotionally vulnerable situations that are so beautifully written about and sung in their music hit home to so many, and the connection to those songs is so deeply special. This should go without saying but just in case it needs to be said, if given the chance, go see The Fray!